Loving the briefcase portability of the Fender Passport 500. Haven't bought it yet, but am strongly considering.
Would this be good enough for a wedding or club of around 250 people?
Just curious to see if anyone in VDJ land can give me some input on these.
Would this be good enough for a wedding or club of around 250 people?
Just curious to see if anyone in VDJ land can give me some input on these.
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 12:34 am
Dazmax
Hi mate
The fender Passport system is realy designed for very small group or solo live music performance, a job it is surprisingly good at conisering its size. Yes it is small, portable and has an on board mixer but it is not realy suitible for DJ use. Unless of course you are going to restrict yourself to small house partys.
Daz
The fender Passport system is realy designed for very small group or solo live music performance, a job it is surprisingly good at conisering its size. Yes it is small, portable and has an on board mixer but it is not realy suitible for DJ use. Unless of course you are going to restrict yourself to small house partys.
Daz
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 3:38 am
andytaylor125
Hi,
I've got to admit I haven't heard this system, but it's 2 10 inch speakers, each of which has 250 watts going into them. I think you would be able to hear the music at the back of a room with 250 rowdy people in, but for me I don't think it'd give the kind of atmosphere I'd want for DJ'ing.
If you were doing a wedding (where it doesn't need to be massively loud) for less than 100 people and I know they just liked "the classics" (no dance music or hip hop with lots of bass) then I'd consider using this. 250 watts is actually quite respecable for smaller speakers. But the industry standard (mackie srm 450) is a 12 inch speaker that does 400 watts each. For a gig with 250 people I'd want a pair of them, and a sub if I was going to be playing new dance music or hip hop.
I've got to admit I haven't heard this system, but it's 2 10 inch speakers, each of which has 250 watts going into them. I think you would be able to hear the music at the back of a room with 250 rowdy people in, but for me I don't think it'd give the kind of atmosphere I'd want for DJ'ing.
If you were doing a wedding (where it doesn't need to be massively loud) for less than 100 people and I know they just liked "the classics" (no dance music or hip hop with lots of bass) then I'd consider using this. 250 watts is actually quite respecable for smaller speakers. But the industry standard (mackie srm 450) is a 12 inch speaker that does 400 watts each. For a gig with 250 people I'd want a pair of them, and a sub if I was going to be playing new dance music or hip hop.
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 6:09 am
Airbornegary
I used this system ONE time at a club I play at every week. There inside system is awesome but this party was outside. The manager didn't want to pay me to bring my mobile gear and he set up the Passport. What a mistake! I connected into this system with just my IPOD at first to do a quick test the day before the event. My IPOD was clipping the system at 50% IPOD volume and less than 50% system volume. Add just a little bass and cut some highs and the system clipped at even lower volumes. The day of the event the manager still wanted to use it. When I began I set the volume just under the clip, walked to the far side of the party (maybe 200 feet), and with the crowd noise I couldn't even hear the music. Not even a little!!! I would never use this for DJing again, even inside. Of course all the guest looked at me as the problem. DAZ is right that it may be ok for small house parties but if you use this at a wedding it may be your last gig!!! It would also work fine for maybe a 3 piece acoustic band set up and works great for just a PA for a large business meeting. Save up your pennies and get a couple of decent powered speakers. Yamaha MSR250 or 400 aren't bad for a small budget and you can get a small 12 channel Yamaha MG12/4 mixer for around $200 if you need to run a small band too. Also, an MSR powered sub can be brought in at a latter time to round out your system. With those 4 pieces your system will be great for parties and wedding, run about $1500, and still be very portable and compact. Any way you go, stay away from those "suitcase" systems for DJing. Just my opinion. Good luck!!!
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 7:18 am
andytaylor125
Haha, looks like I was giving these too much credit then. Some 10 inch speakers aren't too bad. A mate of mine has done a few small weddings with 10 inch rcf speakers, but obviously no good with these!
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 11:54 am
jakeintox
Build quality is crap on these, too. I've used one at work and the inputs started going out after less than a year. Nice idea, but poor execution on Fender's part.
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 1:05 pm
djnutz
The Passport is really designed more for speaking. I know several large companies who use Passports to hold company meetings etc. It also works well for trade show demonstrations. I have seen them used at a golf expo by a swing mechanic doing a seminar.
Posted Sun 06 Feb 11 @ 2:59 pm
dbayliss
My2cents on this old post.
My Fender Passports are used in weddings and outdoor events. The sound quality of these systems are astounding.
After 5 years they are still in fantastic shape. I suppose if you respect your equipment it lasts longer.
2 are in use today. The PD250 Deluxe is the main system. I do add an active sub for the kick and for 200+ people it is perfect. You cannot beat the sound of this system. If you're shopping for a system think sound quality over volume.
The PD250 is a back up and also used if the ceremony needs audio. The convenient size makes them easy to place out of the way. I mic'd a singer with an acoustic guitar for an outdoor wedding ceremony and the performer thanked ME at the end for making him sound good.
Hat's off to Fender for designing these awesome and highly portable systems.
Doug
My Fender Passports are used in weddings and outdoor events. The sound quality of these systems are astounding.
After 5 years they are still in fantastic shape. I suppose if you respect your equipment it lasts longer.
2 are in use today. The PD250 Deluxe is the main system. I do add an active sub for the kick and for 200+ people it is perfect. You cannot beat the sound of this system. If you're shopping for a system think sound quality over volume.
The PD250 is a back up and also used if the ceremony needs audio. The convenient size makes them easy to place out of the way. I mic'd a singer with an acoustic guitar for an outdoor wedding ceremony and the performer thanked ME at the end for making him sound good.
Hat's off to Fender for designing these awesome and highly portable systems.
Doug
Posted Thu 29 Dec 11 @ 9:11 pm
Charlie Wilson
It's very difficult when some say yay and some say no-way.
I think you can scale down your show too much and I personally wouldn't recommend something so small, I've tried many small system with no expense speared and the upshot was that 9 times out of 10 your happier and so is your custom with larger punchier gear. That might just be a pair of k8's and a sub or a pair of RCF's, even just the 12's but less than that is just to much of a cold, hi-fi sound.
This gear is mostly seen being used by solo artists or after dinner speakers etc.
I think you can scale down your show too much and I personally wouldn't recommend something so small, I've tried many small system with no expense speared and the upshot was that 9 times out of 10 your happier and so is your custom with larger punchier gear. That might just be a pair of k8's and a sub or a pair of RCF's, even just the 12's but less than that is just to much of a cold, hi-fi sound.
This gear is mostly seen being used by solo artists or after dinner speakers etc.
Posted Fri 30 Dec 11 @ 4:25 am